What are kyoyasai ?

Kyoto is far from the sea, so it was hard for people to get seafood a long time ago. That’s why people living in Kyoto used to eat mainly vegetables. 1,000 years ago, local people presented the Emperor, who used to live in Kyoto, with several vegetables grown in other prefectures in Japan. Then these vegetables were grown in Kyoto and became good quality thanks to the climate, clean water and cultivation methods there. This was the beginning of Kyoyasai and Kyoto’s speciality vegetables. Even now, some of these vegetables are still grown using the same traditional methods.

There are several requirements for vegetables to be registered as kyoyasai. To suit the image of Kyoto, they have to ship to other prefectures, and must consistently meet the quality standards. Farmers must avoid using pesticides under the Kyoto Kodawari cultivation rules. Also, only types of vegetables that have been grown before the Meiji era are allowed to be called kyoyasai. These special vegetables are used in restaurants and even at home for cooking. Recently, scientists discovered that “Kyoyasai has an original smell, taste and colors. Furthermore, they have many health benefits such as preventing cancer and keeping a healthy weight as they are low in calories.”

Kyoto vegetables which you can try now

Currently, there are twenty types of Kyoto vegetables registered. Some of them are available to harvest all-year round, and some are only available at certain times of the year. Kyoto Mizuna (pother mustard), Kujo green onions, and Mibuna (similar to pother mustard) are grown all-year. Kyoto Mizuna has leaves with a deep slit, and has a crisp texture. It can be cooked in various ways in a range of dishes, for example, with deep-fried bean curd (tofu), dishes prepared in seasoned broth, salads, and can be made into delicious light pickles. Kyoto’s famous springtime vegetable is takenoko (bamboo shoots), also called shiroko. Compared to other bamboo shoots, these have a sweeter taste, and the texture is fleshy and soft. In summer, shishigatani kabocha (pumpkin) is popular. It has a rough shape, like Japanese gourd. Due to its shape, it is sometimes used like a plate, with other food placed on top. An example dish is shishigatani kabocha, which is pumpkin stuffed with minced beef. The shape is unique, so people also use it for its appearance. Fall in Kyoto brings eggplants and chillies to the kitchen. They have various shapes, sizes, and other individual features. There are many Kyoto vegetables harvested in the winter. Above all, the most famous vegetables are kintoki ningin (carrot), Horikawa gobo (burdock) and seigoin daikon (radish). Kintoki ningin carrots are bright red from the surface to the inside. Therefore, they are used to add color to winter dishes such as miso soup and osechi (Japanese New Year’s cuisine). The burdock is bigger compared to normal burdock and has a hollow trunk. So, they soak up surrounding flavors. Seigoin daikons do not taste bitter; instead they have a faintly sweet flavor, so they are often used in oden (Japanese hotpot with assorted ingredients like radish, tofu, or boiled egg). Of all the Kyoto vegetables, the most famous are Kujo green onions and Kyoto Mizuna because they are well known and available to harvest all year.

Recommended stores and restaurants for Kyoto vegetables

Finally, we would like to introduce several cafes and restaurants where you can eat Kyoto vegetables. We recommend three restaurants in Kyoto. Isoya on Sanjyo is a casual restaurant where you can eat grilled Kyoto vegetables with an original sauce, a selection of salt, or Miso (bean paste condiment). In the restaurant, fresh Kyoto vegetables which were picked that morning are lined up, and a chef cooks those in front of you. So, you can enjoy eating different Kyoto vegetables and cuisines depending on the day you visit. If you go Isoya, we recommend you reserve in advance.

Gion abbesses on Gion Shijyo is located in an old Kyoto townscape. It is a luxury French restaurant, and you can try authentic French cuisine with colorful Kyoto vegetables. There are more than 150 kinds of wines including natural wines in this restaurant, and you can consult with a wine sommelier.

Obase on Sanjyo. It is a Japanese style restaurant in a renovated kyo-machiya (a traditional tile-roofed wooden house structure with mud walls and an inner garden, built using a framework construction method). This restaurant is very particular about the interior because it chose pieces of furniture to match the traditional building. You can eat original Japanese and Western course meals with Japanese tableware and chopsticks.

We introduced three restaurants where you can eat Kyoto vegetables in a wide variety of dishes. Kyo-branded Products Association (Public Interest Group Corporation) has certified formal Kyoto vegetable dealers in the metropolitan area and the Kinki area as bases for consumption promotion and sales promotion. Now, twenty-five stores in the metropolitan area and twenty-four stores in the Kinki area are certified, and you can easily get Kyoto vegetables at those stores. On the Kyo-branded Products Association’s official site, a lot of cooking recipes using Kyoto vegetables have been released. If you are interested in those dishes, please try cooking them yourself at home!

As you know, there is a lot of delicious food in Kyoto. In this article, we are going to tell you about the noodles. Kyoto, especially Kyoto City, is one of the most famous places for noodles in Japan. That is why there are a lot of great noodle restaurants here. In this article, we will introduce you to Menya-Kirameki: a really famous noodle restaurant on Kyoto Sanjo and part of the Kirameki chain of noodle restaurants in Kyoto. We will introduce other Kirameki restaurants at the end of this article. If you want to get more information about the Kirameki Group, please check them out.

Menya-Kirameki Kyoto Sanjo

Taiwanese Spicy Soupless Noodles

The most famous noodle dish in Kirameki is their Taiwanese Soupless Noodles. This dish was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 2008. It was created from meals that were prepared for the staff of a Taiwanese restaurant in Nagoya. The Taiwanese owner used to serve these soupless noodles only for his employees until one day a customer saw them and asked him to put it on the regular menu. The owner tried to add some spices to make it tastier because it was a simple dish compared to other items on the menu in this restaurant. The dish contains ground meat seasoned with some spices that are placed on the top of super thick noodles. It also has fish meal, leeks, Chinese chives and fresh egg yolk. The way to eat it is straightforward: you just mix all the ingredients to taste them together. You might be surprised by the flavors when you eat this for the first time. However, we are sure that you will like it more and more as you continue to eat. When you have finished eating, it is recommended that you put a small cup of rice into your noodle bowl that still has some flavor from the spices. This is called “shime” in Japanese, and it is meant to refresh your mouth. To put it simply, it plays the role of brushing your teeth. By eating a bowl of plain white rice, you can ‘clean up’ the remaining flavors in your mouth. In Kirameki, you can get a small cup of rice for free when you order Taiwanese Soupless Noodles. It is okay to put the rice into your noodle bowl at the end of eating, and it is great to eat the noodles and rice together. It definitely makes you full and satisfied. But, please take care of the smell of your breath after eating Taiwanese Soupless Noodles! Those are some spicy flavors!

Chicken Bone White Broth Noodles with Soy Sauce

There is a wide range of noodles in Kyoto. Most noodle restaurants in Kyoto specialize in ‘rich noodles.’ Kyoto is called the “Student City” because there are many universities in Kyoto City. Students want to feel full and satisfied for as little money as possible. That is why many noodle restaurants are serving ‘rich noodles’ to make students-the main customers-feel satisfied. Kirameki serves ‘rich noodles.’ The soup in this dish is made from chicken bones. It takes a long time to produce the umami flavors from the chicken bones. Umami is made from the chicken bones and adjusted for taste.When you eat ‘rich noodles,’ at first, try a spoonful of just the soup and enjoy each original rich flavor. Secondly, pick up some of the noodles and eat them together with the rich soup. The noodles are all made from Japanese flour called yumemanten, which is made in Nagano Prefecture. They are really thick and chewy. Most people fall in love with these divine noodles due to their texture. Also, you can enjoy some awesome toppings such as slices of roasted pork, juicy menma (bamboo shoots), shredded green onions, and a slice of lemon. They make these noodles even tastier.

Chicken Bone Noodles

As well as their soy sauce dishes, Kirameki also serves noodles that have a delightful salty taste. This dish is very similar to the soy sauce options. However, the color of the soup is a little different. These dishes have a special handmade sauce that contains salt made from fresh sea water from Vietnam and France. You can taste the natural flavor of the salt, which gives you a very different taste to the soy sauce noodles. It would be great to share two noodles with others if you go to Kirameki with your friends. Comparing two flavors is just one way of enjoying noodle restaurants and becoming an expert in Japanese noodles!

Golden Noodles with Sesame Sauce

In Japan, especially in Kyoto, the temperature reaches up to about 38 degrees in the summer. It is said that the summer climate in Kyoto is worse than a desert. Someone might say “I don’t want to get hot food on such a humid day.” But, for those people who need to cool down in the coming summer season eating noodles can be a great option. Golden noodles with sesame sauce is a dish of cold spicy noodles. It has plenty of shredded meat on top and also some peanuts. The peanuts play an important role in this dish. The sweet taste of the peanuts balances the spiciness. In Kirameki, this dish is served only in the summer. It would be the perfect noodle dish for anyone who really wants to eat noodles even on a hot day. Although we concentrated on Kirameki noodle restaurants this time, enjoy discovering and experimenting with a variety of noodle restaurants around Kyoto. You may be able to find a special noodle restaurant that your friends don’t know, and can be your noodle heaven.

【Access】

There are six Kirameki restaurants in Kyoto:

1. Kirameki-no-tori

This was the first Kirameki restaurant opened in Kyoto. If you visit Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kirameki-no-tori is nearby. The opening hours are 11:00-15:00, and 18:00-23:00. The telephone number is 075-231-2505.

2. Yuhi-no-kirameki

This was the second Kirameki restaurant. If you visit Ichijoji, or Takaragaike, it is nearby. The opening hours are 11:00-15:00, and 18:00-23:00. The telephone number is 075-746-5388.

3. Kirameki Chicken Heart

This is Kirameki’s third restaurant. It is near Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. If you visit Arashiyama, you can go there by bus. The nearest bus stop is Shijo-kadono-oji, which takes about 15 minutes from Arashiyama. The opening hours are 11:00-14:30, and 18:00-22:30. The telephone number is 075-754-6388.

4. Kirameki ☆ JAPAN

Kirameki ☆ JAPAN, the fourth Kirameki restaurant, is near Demachi-yanagi Station and Kyoto University. Take the Keihan Railway and get off at Demachi-yanagi Station. It is easy to get there. The opening hours are 11:00-14:30, and 18:00-22:30. The Telephone number is 075-741-7174.

5. Komugi-no-kirameki

This is the fifth Kirameki restaurant. The nearest station is Kamikatsura, and Katsura. Kamikatsura is on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line. You could visit here before or after visiting Arashiyama. The opening hours are 11:00-22:30. The telephone number is 075-874-4411.

6. Menya-Kirameki -Kyoto Sanjo Street

This is the sixth Kirameki restaurant and the head restaurant of Kirameki. If you visit Kawaramachi, you can visit here. Head to north from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station. It takes about ten minutes on foot. The opening hours are 11:00-23:30. The telephone number is 075-744-6199.

As you know, Kyoto has a lot of traditional Japanese food that is popular with tourists. However, do you know that bread is really popular with people in Kyoto? In fact, bread consumption in Kyoto is No.1 in Japan. The reason why bread is so popular in Kyoto is due to its connection with craftsmen. There are a lot of busy craftsmen in Kyoto and bread is really easy for them to eat when they are working. In this article, we are going to introduce some great bakeries near Karasuma Station. This area is really flourishing so you can find not only bakeries but also many nice shops such as souvenir shops, clothing store and so on. Enjoy the metropolitan side of Kyoto and great local bread in this area.

Sizuya

Sizuya is a famous bakery, which since 1948, has captured the hearts of Kyoto residents. Anyone who was born or grew up in Kyoto can’t but love their bread. There are 22 locations in Kyoto prefecture and the site that we visited this time is located in Shijo-Karasuma in the very heart of the city. This shop is very accessible as it is inside Shijo-Karasuma Station, and you can find it quickly as soon as you exit from the ticket gates. The most famous bread in Sizuya is the Karne -a sandwich with ham, fresh onion and soft margarine. It is very simple but delicious.

Shinshindo

Shinshindo is known as a bakery pioneer in Kyoto. It was established in 1913, making it 35 years older than Sizuya and the oldest bakery in Kyoto. There are 12 locations in Kyoto; however, some stores don’t just sell bread. Some have a restaurant where you can enjoy lunch or dinner, and others have a coffee shop inside where you can enjoy super fresh bread and excellent coffee. You can walk there in about 5 minutes from Hankyu-Karasuma Station, so you can take a break and enjoy great bread and coffee before or after exploring Shijo. The most popular bread in Shinshindo is said to be their rich buttery croissant. Outside is very crunchy and the inside is super soft. The beautiful flavor of the butter spreads out in your mouth as soon as you bite it. It must be one of the best croissants in Kyoto.

Grandir Kyoto

This bakery has a cool and trendy appearance with a simple black exterior, and inside there is a wide range of bread on display. Grandir Kyoto opened about 30 years ago and specializes in bagels and panini. People who want to eat a nice bagel or fresh panini should visit there. There are 5 locations in Kyoto and also 3 locations in Nagoya. The shop that we visited is near Kyoto-Shiyakusho-Mae Station (Subway- Tozai Line) and is easy to get to from Kawaramachi or Karasuma. When you open the stylish door and go in, you are surrounded by the pleasant smell of fresh bread. You can choose from a lot of different kinds of bagels as you can see in the photo: cocoa, cream cheese and so on. Just picking which bagel you want is fun. You can also order fresh paninis which the shop staff make to order in front of you. So, you can enjoy a really tasty fresh panini there.

Kin-iro Kyoto

Kin-iro Kyoto, was launched just recently in April 2018. It is getting a lot of attention from young people. There are only two kinds of bread, both of which are cream buns. One is called kin-iro which has rich cream and plenty of Canadian honey. It looks really gorgeous because it is decorated with pieces of gold leaf on the top. The other cream bun is called kuro-iro. Kuro means “black” in Japanese, so it is a black cream bun with cacao and coffee in the bread dough. Inside of the bun, you can taste Guatemala coffee’s honey in the custard and cream made from high-class eggs from Oita prefecture. The harmonization of the bread dough made by cocoa and coffee with the rich cream will blow your tongue away!

Kyoto Bakery Market

This bakery is perfect for people who are downtown shopping and don’t want to walk around too much just to find some decent bread. It is on the 7th floor of Marui Department Store near Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu-Kyoto Line). The best thing about this store is that you can find a selection of great bread from various bakeries in Kyoto. You don’t need to spend time and energy going to each bakery to sample their speciality bread. Also, you can take a break and have a coffee in the rest area attached to the bakery. In other words, here is like a culmination of what Kyoto’s bakeries have to offer.

【Information for Sizuya】

Sizuya is in front of the subway ticket gates in Shijo Station. You can also easily access it from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway. The ticket gates are on the lower basement floor. If you come from the ground level, please take the stairs or escalator down. The opening hours are from 7:30am to 9:00pm, and they are closed on January 1st.

【Information for Shinshindo】

You can walk to Shinshindo in about 5 minutes from either Karasuma Station or Shijo Station heading north-east. Diagonally opposite, there is a park that has a playground. Shinshindo has lovely trees and plants, so you can easily find it. Opening hours are 7:30am to 8:00pm. The days when the bakery is closed varies.

【Information for Grandir Kyoto】

Grandir Kyoto is a smaller bakery than others. The closest station is Kyoto Shiyakusyo Mae (Kyoto City Hall) Station; however, you can walk from Kawaramachi. If you go there from Kawaramachi, please head north. It’s about a 15-minute walk. This bakery is next to Kyoto City Hall. You will see bicycles parked in front of the bakery. The opening hours are 8:00am to 7:00pm. The days when the bakery is closed varies.

【Information for Kin-iro Kyoto】

Kin-iro Kyoto is on Sanjo Street. You can walk from Kyoto Shiyakusyo Mae (Kyoto City Hall) Station (10-minute walk) or Kawaramachi Station and Karasuma Station (15-minute walk). The bakery doesn’t have any space to eat inside. The opening hours are 11:00am to 7:00pm. The bakery is closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

【Information for Kyoto Bakery Market】

Go to the 7th floor in Marui Department Store, which is on Shijo Street opposite the Disney Store. There are lots of tables and chairs where you can eat. If you are tired of shopping, you can take a rest here. Opening hours are 11:00am to 8:00pm. The bakery is closed when Marui is closed.

Kyoto is said to have the highest bread consumption in Japan. Kyoto has many bakeries and the consumption is the best in Japan. It is also known that there are many delicious bakeries. These are some recommended bakeries.

Le Petit Mech

The most popular bakery in Kyoto is “Le Petit Mech.” It is a bakery with a nice look like a bakery on

France’s street corner “Le Petit Mech.” The appearance is red, and local people have nicknames it “red mech.” It is a popular, delicious and tasty bakery shop. The shop is crowded with customers all the time. The bread is made by the owner, who was trained in France. French pastries are acclaimed around the world.

Business days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. The inside of the shop is fancy, and decorated with many French images. French movie posters are on the walls, along with messages from customers from all over the world. There is an eat-in space with red gingham check tablecloth, and it is crowded with lots of people from early in the morning. Either with coffee or French beer, you can have delicious bread. The most popular pastry at Le Petite Mech is “Bacon Shrimp” which includes bacon, shrimp and black pepper. This is so simple, but so popular in this bakery.

Next is baguette. This bread is made with a low temperature, so the smell is very good with a crisp exterior.

To go to this bakery, you take a bus [203] and get [go to Nishikibayashisyakomae] bus and get off at Imadegawaoomiya bus stop. Then, continue 140m on foot.

Grandieres Oike

A long-established Kyoto store is “Grandieres Oike shop”.

“Grandieres Oike shop” has a chic, calm and nice appearance. It is a long-established bakery which has been beloved in Kyoto since long ago. While taking over the old taste, it continues to make more delicious bread every day.

Various types of sandwiches are popular. This shop in the business area has many breads and good for lunch. For example, a burger with plenty of ingredients. You can also eat the bread you bought on the outside terrace. There are many kinds of delicious breads. The variety of breads is said to be the best in Kyoto. The most popular bread is “panini shrimp & avocado” for ¥460. Shrimp, avocado, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and basil sauce are included.

Bagels are also popular. They have a very nice scent and the texture is wonderful. It is recommended to use the bagels for sandwiches.

To get to this bakery, you take the subway Karasuma line, and get off at the Kyoutoshiyakushomae station. From this station, 2 minutes on foot.

Tamakitei

Another popular bakery is Tamakitei. This bakery is in Uji.

Inside the shop is filled with the fragrance of freshly baked bread. It looks like delicious bread. There are lots of bread with individuality and impact. Every one seems to be really tasty. Although I don’t usually have such strong urges about food, in this shop I want to eat everything. One of the popular breads of the shop is “Panshue”. This is bread baked with a lot of bacon and potatoes. The taste of pepper, garlic butter, and parsley is makes it a flavorful meal. A fragrant, tasty baguette is another attractive specialty. Even though it has a deep taste, there is lightness, and when you start eating you won’t feel like stopping until the bread is consumed.

Also, the “cream croissant” is so delicious. It costs 230 yen. It has handcrafted custard and cream. This bread is campagne, so it is very delicious. This bakery is the only one that uses these ingredients. In addition, this bakery has a refrigerated corner. There is bread available only at this refrigeration corner. There are many breads with unique names such as Kanyane (クニャーネ), Ujibashi Dori, and Tan Tan France. Kanyane has a very good texture. Ujigashi dori smells of tea. Tan tan France uses black beans. so, you can feel the taste of Japan. Please do try it once.

〒611-0011Kyoto Prefecture Uji-shi Gokenjo Hirano 57-14

to get this bakery, you take JR Nara line and get off at the Oubaku station. From this station, the bakery is 5 minutes on foot.

These three bakeries are so popular, but in Kyoto there are other delicious bakeries. When you visit Kyoto, please try to go to bakeries.

On the north side of the intersection of Higashi Odori and Kitaoji Dori, there is an area where ramen shops are gathered so that this area is called ramen highway in the fierce ramen battlefield “ichijoji” in Kyoto.

This time we will introduce 3 popular noodle shops recommended especially among ramen shops in such “Ichijoji”street.

GOKKEI RAMEN

The first restaurant is “Gokkei”. Rich soup is a popular dish in this restaurant.

This ramen shop’s menu includes “tori daku”, “aka daku” and “kuro daku”. Some people add toppings such as chashu [grilled pork] Plus 100 yen to make noodles flourish.

Tori Daku

This ramen is chicken-based ramen, it features a rich thick soup. The impression is heavy, but there is no persistence, so you can eat it with a plate dish. This ramen becomes addictive once you eat it.

Aka Daku

This is ramen sprinkled with chilli on the whole bowl. Under the red peppers is a thick soup, so if you taste it with chili pepper it is not as hot as it looks. Rich in noodles, rich soup and chilli are mingled together.

Kuro Daku

“Kuro daku” is ramen served with oil in it. It is ramen with scorched garlic for flavor, the aroma stimulating the appetite before eating. After finishing the ramen noodles, we eat rice in the remaining soup. If you would like to eat soup without leaving even a drop, please eat this way.

The next restaurant is “Akihide.” Informations about when this restaurant is opened is uploaded on Twitter about 30 minutes before opening. This means that the basic day is closed. You cannot go to a restaurant without watching Twitter information. There are always lined up in front of this restaurant on weekdays. In order not to bother the neighbors, please take care when lined up. In this restaurant, there are only 9 seats in the counter. The way to order ramen is only using vending machine.

This restaurant has regular size ramen(750 yen) and large size rmen(900 yen). You can also choose toppings such as seasoned eggs and garlic. Since rice is also prepared from 60 yen, rice is added to the ramen soup after eating up.

“Takayasu” is 4 minutes on foot from the “Ichi-ji” station. The shopkeeper who opened in Takano-Tamaoka Town moved to Ichijoji in March of 2006. There are many female customers who have a fashionable appearance. It is always crowded. There are risks if you want to enjoy ramen without being lined up in row long time. The stock, which simmered for over 20 hours is made of pig bones and is creamy and rich in taste without any bad smell. You can also committed not to use vegetables to sweeten only with bones. Therefore, you can feel the taste of pork straight.

The noodles are tangled firmly in the soup. The whole balance of soup, noodles is well balanced. It is easy to try even those who do not like pig bones, and it is also attractive to enjoy a casual taste.

How did ramen come to be established at Ichijoji? It was a popular area and any shop could take a chance on starting a business there. When visiting Kyoto, please try ramen, as well as traditional Japanese food

The History of Matcha

Tea was drunk in China and carried from there to Japan about 800 years ago by priests who went abroad to study culture in China. At first, it was used for medicinal purposes by noblemen. Later, the way of drinking tea stirred into hot water was introduced and took shape as the tea ceremony by Sen no Rikyu and others. Now, Japanese people drink it in the tea ceremony and daily life. But recently, matcha (powdered green tea) is very popular in the world and there are stores specializing in matcha in New York and Los Angeles.

Matcha and Beauty

Macha is drunk all over the world and it is famous as a superfood now. Superfood is a word used by doctors, and nutritionists for foods that contain a lot of active elements. For example, there are coconuts, cacaos, açaí palm and so on. Japanese food, natto and miso, are also considered superfoods. They contain a lot of effective ingredients for enhancing beauty. First, matcha has an effect on diet. There are catechin that reduces absorbtion of sugar, tannin that reduces and controls absorbtion of fat, caffeine that burns the fat and chlorophyll that lets unnecessary cholesterol out. It is most effective to drink three cups of tea every day. Next, matcha has vitamins. There are vitamin C that prevents liver spots and freckles, a vitamin that prevents dry skin and vitamin A that keeps the skin moist. Then, matcha has the effect of anti-ageing. It can prevent wrinkles, liver spots and freckles. Matcha is easy to drink and has a lot of effective ingredients for beauty. Matcha is very popular all over the world.

How to Take Matcha in the Body

Matcha can be taken into the body easily in some ways. Matcha is a little bit bitter and difficult for some people to drink every day. In the supermarkets and convenience stores, green tea containing matcha is sold as a drink. People can drink it more easily than matcha. Matcha smoothie, which is a mixture of bananas and soybean milk, is also easy to drink every day. Adding other ingredients, especially sweet ones, help to disguise the bitterness of matcha. Matcha is not only a drink, but also can also be made as dessert. Matcha sweets are the most popular way to take in matcha around the world. There are matcha chocolate, matcha cake, matcha parfait, matcha ice cream, and mactha cookies. Furthermore, there are cosmetics that are made of matcha. Matcha beauty soap and facial pack are sold around the world.

Matcha Diet

It is said that matcha is effective for reducing weight. If you want to try a matcha diet, it is recommended that you follow these rules for when, how much and how to make matcha. In order to be effective, it is best to drink 3 grams of matcha in each cup and to drink several cups every day. Matcha contains caffeine so it can wake you up in the morning. By drinking it in the morning, you can start the fat-burning effects and keep them going all day long. When you make matcha, the water should be 70 to 80 degrees, not boiling. If the water is too hot, it will cause the matcha to lose some nutritional benefits. Follow these rules to get the benefits of matcha in a reducing diet.

Relaxation Effect

If people drink matcha, they will become composed because it contains theanine. This suppresses exited states of the brain and reduces the possibility to get irritated. It also effects insomnia, high blood pressure, improvement of PMS and concentration. Matcha can make the body healthy and beautiful.

Matcha in Kyoto

Kyoto is the one of the famous prefectures that make matcha in Japan. There are a lot of matcha flavored sweets available here. We visited one famous matcha shop, called “Matcha House” in Kawaramachi. This is very popular for people on holiday, although customers must wait for 2 hours and more. We also waited for two hours. We ate matcha tiramisu and drank green tea. The green was beautiful and the dish was served in a small mortar. It was really delicious.

The history of meat in Kyoto is quite old. The first reference to Kyoto beef is over 700 years ago. It is marked as tannbagyu by the oldest “book of meat” which was written in 1310. “Tannba” is northern part of Kyoto, and gyu is Japanese for beef. First of all, it is a brand of meat in Kyoto, so all of the cows in Kyoto cannot become Tannbagyu. There are many conditions. Tannbagyu have to be taken care of with professional skills, raised in an environment abundant with nature and drink the clearest water. In 2017, it won an award at the meat industry festival in Tokyo, so it is the one of the most famous brands of meat in Japan for sure. It is said that the rich taste of tannbagyu was enjoyed as long ago as the Heian Period (794 – 1185) by aristocrats. In the Jomon and Yayoi Era Japanese people did eat meat. However, in 675 A.D., Emperor Tenmu prohibited all Japanese from eating meat. This ban was reinforced by succeeding emperors and become a strong taboo, connected to the Buddhist religion. The ban was eventually lifted and in the Meiji Era, Japanese people began to eat meat again.Some of the characteristics of the tannbagyu are really good texture, perfect marbling and fine fiber. These characteristics make tannbagyu much better than other meats among the wide variety of meats in Japan. Furthermore, tannbagyu cows are living in very comfortable locations. For example, they are always waking up listening to cries of birds and sleeping while listening the sou nds of birds, so they are taken care of without any stress. By enjoying a natural life, the flavor and texture of their meat is enhanced.

Japanese traditional meat food : Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki

It is said that Japanese people first enjoyed meat in a dish called sukiyaki which originated from the Edo Period (1603 – 1868). Sukiyaki is kind of Japanese hot pot and a really popular traditional cuisine. One particular feature of the dish is its sweet broth. When we make sukiyaki, we use sugar in the stock, which also contains mirin, a rice wine, and soy sauce. We cook sliced beef and vegetables in sukiyaki broth. We also add tofu, mushrooms and clear noodles. We usually eat sukiyaki for special events such as someone`s birthday, payday, New Year’s day and so on. Sukiyaki is a festive dish and expensive to make because of the high quality beef.In 1870, the first sukiyaki restaurant opened in Tokyo, at the same time a location opened in Kyoto as well. They used tannbagyu in sukiyaki. Then, a bunch of people who ate sukiyaki in Kyoto were fascinated. There are slight differences between the Tokyo and Kyoto versions of the popular dish. In Tokyo, they simmer beef and vegetables at the same time. On the other hand, in Kyoto, we simmer beef first and then add vegetables. This is just a slight difference, but when you eat and compare, you might be able to distinguish how different they are.The image of Japanese dishes is often low fat and very simple. However, meat dishes are also popular and easy to procure in Kyoto, which is city far from the sea. Simple Japanese dishes such as rice balls, miso soup and bowls of noodles are plain next to the excitement of a rich, sweet, aromatic pot of sukiyaki, served on festive occasions. Although it is sometimes prepared at home, there are many restaurants in Kyoto that specialize in sukiyaki. Many others feature yakiniku, Korean style grilled beef served with rich, sweet, or spicy sauces.

Kyoto dishes other than Sukiyaki

The famous Katsu restaurant ”Katsugyu”

Kyoto’s cow is now used not only for sukiyaki but also for many other specialties in Kyoto. In Kyoto, consumption of beef is ranked highest in the whole country. This was surprising. In addition, Kyoto Prefecture is ranked highest in the country, for bread consumption. It is said that this is related to the personality and temperament of people who live in Kyoto. One of the famous Kyoto dishes is the sandwich. The most popular of Kyoto’s sandwiches is the egg sandwich, but another one is the beef sandwich, made of cutlets garnished with ketchup on white bread. Furthermore, since coffee goes well with a beef sandwich, Kytoto’s consumption of coffee is also ranked highest in the country. Surprisingly, the purchase ranking of tea is low, at 40th of Japan’s 47 prefectures.Kyoto’s beef cutlet is called “Kyoto katsugyu”. The beef katsu, or cutlet, is cooked medium rare, so that the meat is tender. It is usually served with wasabi soy sauce. Kyoto kasugyu is spreading in popularity nationwide, and there are already 10 restaurants in the Tokyo area, and in Korea. Soon, this dish may spread around the world.

There are several kinds of meat in Kyoto.

The exlanation about the meat in Kyoto

Besides Tamba beef, Kyoto has various kinds of meat. Most of them are Kuroge Wagyu cattle. They are “Kyoto gyu”,”Kyo no niku”,”Tanba gyu”,Kameoka gyu”, “Kyo tanguro gyu”. Although Kyoto’s cattle, especially Tamba cows, have a long tradition, they are overshadowed by more famous neighbors. Kyoto cattle farms are sandwiched between Hyogo prefecture and Shiga prefecture, which are both famous for producing specialty beef. So, we named the high-grade meat produced and raised in Kyoto Prefecture as “Kyoto meat” and sold it as a brand of Kyoto. Breeding is mainly carried out in the Nantan area of ​​Kameoka City, Nantan City, and Kyotanba Town. After fattening at each farm, butchering, packaging and processing of the beef is done in Kyoto city.The history and circumstances of the meat in Kyoto is especially deep. We have continued to raise cows and environment to take care of them from 1310 until now, but until now, we have been changing how to cook them and eat them. Of course, sukiyaki is not only the way to eat tannbagyu. We have a lot of cuisine using tannbagyu in these days. tannbagyu has been made by a variety of dishes. Each dish has a particular advantage when it comes to reminding everyone of tradition. There are many brands of meat in Kyoto, not only the historic tambagyu. In conclusion, the meat in Kyoto has long history and it has been handed down until today. Kyoto meat is soul food for people in Kyoto.

Some hold the view that Kyoto has the oldest history of making sake, especially Fushimi, which is known as one of the most eminent brewing places in Japan. Fushimi is composed of plains along three rivers; Kamo river, Uji river and Katsura river and the peaks of the Higashiyama, including the Momoyama hills. Because of the geographical features of the land, Fushimi has a good quality of underground water and it gushes out from all over. The water is well-balanced with substances like potassium and calcium, therefore, it is an excellent water to make sake. The tradition of making sake flowered in Azuchi Momoyama Period. Since it started, the tradition has taken over for long time. Now, there are many breweries in Fushimi and many tasteful houses standing in a row. Everybody can enjoy tasting sake at many breweries. We introduce one of the famous breweries: Kizakura.

Kizakura CONCEPT

Kizakura provides a place that people can feel Japanese rice wine and they want everyone to deepen understanding of Kizakura products and sake cultures. Kizakura gets support from customers because they make TV commercials first and develop new products which not general idea. Their new products are liked by everyone, because they have a good taste and affordable prices. Making sake is a traditional occupation but this traditional culture depends not only on the manufactures. So they extend their activities for enjoying to drink sake to younger generations. Kizakura has made a facility which people can visit both making premium sake, made from rice polished to 60%, and making locally brewed beer. This brewery open to the public is located near a memorial hall with restaurant. It is called “Kizakura Kappa Country”. This is located in Fushimi Ward in Kyoto city. The best way is to take a train from Kyoto station. Take the Kintetsu Kyoto line to Momoyamagoryomae station and get off there. It takes 8-minutes walks from the Momoyamagoryomae station to the facility. If you take a car, it is OK because there is a parking lot. This is open every day besides the New Year. Moreover, there are English menu for foreign tourists and child menu for children so everyone can enjoy themselves without age and nationality. This is like a theme park of Japanese rice wine and locally brewed beer. So people can drink fresh sake there. Furthermore, the facility can be reserved for private parties. So people can enjoy a closed-door party with many people. Kizakura contributes to the region’s development and sticks to making sake and working on developing sake business.

PRODUCTS

Kizakura sells a lot of products. People think Kizakura sells only Japanese sake because Kizakura is the making alcoholic beverages. However, Kizakura makes somethings outside of Japanese sake. At first, I’ll introduce about Japanese sake.

1.

This is the Japanese sake of Kizakura. Japanese sake has many kinds of taste and rich in variety. Sake has a lot of ranks. For example, there is the top-quality sake brewed from rice grains milled to 50 percent or less of their weight. This is the top rank in the Japanese sake. At Kizakura, the rice for that top-of-the-line brew is used to make Japanese sake. The process of fermentation is changed every day. Therefore it is difficult to control and make Japanese sake. The experts who have years of experience working at Kizakura check and control the brewing process with scrupulous care day and night.

Japanese sake is a relatively new product. This is the Japanese sake, too. And this is the like champagne. It has a good but mild taste. It has a pleasant aftertaste, which is softer than the aftertaste than Japanese sake. Therefore this product’s reputation is growing fast now. Sparkling sake is made from rice and koji ; malted rice. This is a little sweet and moderate sour. Japanese sparkling sake is popular among women.

Outside Japanese sake. Kizakura makes and sells a lot of products. First is cosmetics. A professional of skincare say that water in which rice has been washed is very good for skin and has some good effects. Some of women wash their face with that. Therefore Kizakura made many cosmetics that is contained components of Japanese sake that take away alcohol.

Second is a sherbet. The flavors are strawberry and mango. A lot of fruit juice is used in the making of the sherberts. They are alcohol like a dessert. They also make shaved ice that only adults can eat, because they contain alcohol.

Third is resort-packed curry. This contains many vegetables grown in Japan. This taste has deep flavor and is a little sweet. There is no alcohol in the curry, so everyone from adults to children can enjoy eating it.

HISTORY

At first, Kizakura did not have a name. In 1925, the founder, Zhiichiro Matsumoto, became independent of his family business of the manufacturing industry of refined sake. He made Matsumoto Zhiichiro shopping district in Fushimi, and this was the beginning of Kizakura. This company has changed its name many times since its foundation.It became a joint-stock company in 1951 and was named Matsumoto Zhiichiro shopping district Co., Ltd. The name was Kizakura making alcoholic beverage Co., Ltd. in 1964 and then in 2006 he changed the name into Kizakura Co., Ltd. The reason of taking away “making alcoholic beverage Co., Ltd.” was to extend the range of their business. In other words, they make not only refined sake but also other kinds of sake. It is said that the company name of Kizakura is taken from the name of a flower. Kizakura is a kind of Satozakura that blooms with light greenish white flowers. Because Mr. Matsumoto loved the flower, he chose this name. Kizakura has the image of a kappa, a Japanese water imp, which they use as their own character on their website and in commercial messages. Why did they choose kappa? The reason was very simple. The second president-director, Shiro Matsumoto, read the comic “Kappatengoku” which is drawn by Kon Shimizu, and he liked it. Since he was so taken with the comic, Kizakura has been using the image of the kappa. After Mr. Shimizu died, Ko Kozhima who is a cartoonist, took over the design of the company’s trademark kappa character. Kizakura is trying to get attention to the culture of refined sake. Therefore, they made “Kappa Country”, which is the first restaurant in Kyoto that serves local beer and has a tour of “Fushimigura” so that people can see the process of making sake and beer at the same time. Kizakura has three wine cellars and makes sake there. And all of them got the gold prize in National New Sake Appraising and Deliberating Fair. Kizakura does not have long history in the manufacturing industry of refined sake, however it has been loved, because of many efforts.

Kizakura has a long history and many products, and has been loved for long time, not only by people who live in Kyoto Prefecture, but also tourists. The reason is that Kyoto is full of beautiful natural places. For example, beautiful rivers and mountains. Therefore, people can use pure water to make Japanese sake. Furthermore, Kizakura produces and sells not only Japanese sake but also cosmetics. Women can feel attached to Kizakura. Nowadays, there’s a Japanese sake boom in Japan. Therefore, everyone will drink it more in the future.

Village

If you arrive at Dreamton village, you will see a British store at first. It is the entrance. In there, you can order some dishs and have wonderful British meals.

However, customers must order all dishes which they want to have at once because the system in here is one-order. Please be careful.

After ordering, you go out the entrance. Then, a beautiful view spreads in front of your eyes. And you are welcomed by PONT-OAK staffs. Then, there is a general shop so you can buy some goods and souvenirs. Streets and views are very beautiful. That’s why those who visit there have fun taking pictures.

PONT-OAK

PONT-OAK is a restaurant and serves British cuisine which you can order.

In there, staff wear classic maid clothes and serve some dishes.

These are enjoyable dishes, for example, fish and chips and tea set.

There are some types of food. One type is everyday dishes. These include fish and chips, roast beef, pasta, sandwich and so on. You can eat these whenever you go.

There are also many side dishes available, for example, salad, garlic baguette and soup. The soup changes every day, so please ask some staff for the soup of the day.

Second, there is a lunch special. These are menus available only on weekdays. These are served from opening time to 2 o’clock. If you make a reservation at least two days before you go, PONT-OAK will make sure that you are served an original luncheon.

Third, there is the “Tea set”. We enjoy British afternoon tea set. Tea is served with pound cake, ginger cookies and so on. For afternoon tea, delicious treats include original scones, ginger pound cake, finger sandwiches, cookies and meat pie.

No matter what you order, there is a pot of tea and you can choose your favorite tea leaves.

“Dessert Cakes” are rich and delicious, of course. Ginger pound cake is moist and fragrant and full of ginger flavor. Furthermore, there is rare cheese cake, and apple pie. However, only ginger pound cake can taken out.

Needless to say, there is scone with original cream and jam. It is an original and popular dish in PONT-OAK.

Finally, there is “Ice cream”. In PONT-OAK you can have cold ice cream and ice cream served with hot sauces. For cold ice cream, you can choose berry sauce or sugar syrup while hot sauces include hot ginger sauce, earl grey and peanuts sauce, which are poured over your ice cream.

How to get there

Dreamton village is very far from the city and what is called a little-known spot.

If you go to Dreamton village, at first you take JR Saganosanin line and get off at “Kameoka” station. After arriving at Kameoka station, you can continue on by taxi or by bus. Because the route is very complicated to get there, we recommend taking a taxi. It costs about 3,000 yen.

The other way is by bus. However you must change buses once. First, you get to Kameoka station, you take a bus and get off at “Kyotogakuenmae”. Next, you take another one and get off at “Okuno ”. You should take a bus whose number is “F21”. This route costs about 500 yen but it takes an hour or more. Furthermore, Dreamton village is located far out in the countryside, so you may lose your way and it is difficult to access Internet too, so we recommend to take a taxi.

Of course, it is also possible to drive your own car to Dreamton village.

Other options

Dreamton village has lodging facilities. It is called “B&B”, which means Bed and Breakfast. You can stay at 1 room 2 persons in there. It costs 28,000 yen on weekdays and 30,000 yen on weekends. Whenever you lodge in the village, you can eat an English breakfast.

People can hold a wedding ceremony here if they make an appointment in advance. Staff prepare a pastor, make-up assistants and cameramen.

We think if you come to Japan, you are looking forward to going some popular temples, shrines and so on. However Dreamton village is a good spot not many people know. So, many Japanese people may not know about there. Is such a place on your mind? If you are interested in it and have time, please go to Dreamton village!

Kyoyasai is a general term for all local vegetables that are cultivated in Kyoto. In Japanese, ‘kyo’ stands for ‘Kyoto’, while ‘yasai’ means vegetables. What qualifies as kyoyasai, as opposed to just a normal vegetable has developed with each passing year. At present, there are 35 vegetables that qualify as kyoyasai. And in order for a restaurant to describe their food with the term ‘kyoyasai’, it must meet the following conditions.

The vegetable must have been introduced in the Meiji era.

It must be cultivated all throughout Kyoto Prefecture.

It should contain bamboo shoots, in some form or another.

It must excludes shiitake mushroom and ferns.

It should includes vegetables that were grown or preserved, and extinct varieties.

Vegetables that satisfy these conditions don’t necessarily have to be of a species specific to Kyoto, they just have to be cultivated using methods specific to Kyoto. This would include, for example, Horikawa burdock, Ebiimo (literally, shrimp potato), Kyoto aralia cordata, Kyoto ginger, Kyoto bamboo, and so on.

Isoya Group

Isoya Group

One of the most popular groups of kyoyasai restaurants in Kyoto is the Isoya Group. It is kind of food management company with four strong values.

The first value is original farms. They have farm called Isozumi Farm in Mukou, Kyoto. The company owner grew up on a farm, so he has intimate knowledge of vegetable farming. The dedicated staff grow kyoyasai on these original farms to make customers happy.

The second value is about freshness. It is important to eat vegetables while they are still fresh. Isoya Group employees work hard to limit the time between harvesting and serving the vegetables. Furthermore, employees closely manage ways to keep the vegetables fresh in each restaurant.

The third value is a local farm network. The Isoya Group has cultivated a network of local farms that allow farmers to cooperate with each other. This allows the Isoya Group to always have a fresh supply of not only basic kyoyasai, but also specialty vegetables which may be hard to farm or difficult to find otherwise.

The last value is seasonal kyoyasai. The Isoya Group believes that it is important to eat food that is in season in Japan. Therefore, they make seasonal kyoyasai and cook it in an original way.

The Isoya Group has five restaurants in Kyoto.

Isoya Group Logo

Isozumi

This restaurant’s main food is oden, which is common and popular Japanese food. It contains many ingredients like eggs, white radish, and kelp boiled together in a large pot with a traditional type of Japanese broth called dashi.

Isoya

This restaurant offers many kinds of baked kyoyasai food. Many of their dishes contain salt, miso and some kind of sauce dipped into which you can dip your kyoyasai. Furthermore, they pay close attention to their baking methods and fire temperatures.

Isomatsu

This restaurant make kyoyasai food that pairs well with wine, as it is prepared in an Italian or French style. There are also big wine sellers, so you can enjoy many kinds of wine along with many kinds of kyoyasai food.

ISOISM

ISOISM

ISOISM is a restaurant serving many kinds of marinated kyoyasai vegetables. For example, you can eat eggplant marinated in soy sauce, celery marinated in orange sauce , and tomato marinated in white wine. These dishes are unique and original, and are enjoyed by both Japanese and foreigners alike.

Like other restaurants from the Isoya Group, the vegetables served in ISOISM are grown on organic farms and are pesticide-free. Therefore, this restaurant is famous for its originality and safety.

Lunch at ISOISM

Lunch at ISOISM

ISOISM offers a lunch plate of marinated vegetables. You can eat up to 12 marinated vegetables, each of which has good effects on the health of your body. For example, you can eat sweet potato marinated with honey and lemon, and topped with cream cheese and nuts. The effect of this meal is improvement of your intestinal environment. Another one is pumpkin marinated with sweet soy sauce and cheese. The effect is hormonal adjustment and body rejuvenation. A third one is onion marinated with sake and salmon roe. The effect is to speed up the metabolism. Additionally, you can eat seasonal takikomi-gohan and soup. Takikomi-gohan is boiled rice seasoned with soy sauce and mixed with meat or seafood and savory vegetables. In this way you are able to experience the Japanese seasons and you can enjoy Japanese culture in this restaurant.

But be warned: ISOISM is famous, so you should get appointment beforehand.

As you can see, there are many restaurants in Kyoto using Kyoyasai. If you are not sure which restaurant is best for you, we recommend you to go Isoya group restaurants. They have the most enthusiasm toward serving kyoyasai dishes, and they also have the famous omotenashi spirit which makes Japanese hospitality an unforgettable experience. Since their restaurants are sometimes full of customers, we recommend you call ahead and check availability before you visit.